Why do I need to be evaluated to adopt?
Adoption readiness evaluations are a way to screen and assess prospective adoptive parents to ensure they have the capacity to provide a safe, stable, and loving home for an adopted child. In some states and countries, pre-adoption evaluations are required by law.
What can I expect from an Adoption Readiness Evaluation?
Depending on your agency type (private, county, or state, for example) and the state/country from which you are adopting, the process varies. International adoptions, for example, tend to have very specific and stringent requirements. Your evaluator should work with your agency to ensure your evaluation will meet all the requirements needed, and you will be asked to sign a release for your evaluator to talk with your agency. However, in general, prospective parents can expect to have an in-depth interview with an evaluator that gathers information on personal backgrounds, family histories, relationships, parenting beliefs, and motivations for adopting. Parents are interviewed separately and jointly, and the interview process takes approximately two hours. Psychological testing is also administered to both parents, usually in the form of a questionnaire that assesses personality traits and psychological issues. Completing the questionnaire takes about an hour to 1.5 hours. After the interview and testing, your evaluator will write a report that summarizes the evaluation in a way that meets the requirements of your agency, country, and state.
Need an evaluation?
Contact lisa@kkjpsych.com